Downtown Youngstown in Mahoning County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Billy Beck
| | Youngstown Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 14, 2026
1. Billy Beck Marker
William "Billy" Beck was born in Youngstown, OH, in 1953. A musical prodigy, he began playing piano at age four and became a pioneering force in funk music. In 1973, Beck joined the legendary Ohio Players and helped shape the band's signature sound. He performed on and co-wrote hits including "Fire," "Love Rollercoaster, "Skin Tight," and "Sweet Sticky Thing." Beyond the Ohio Players, Beck collaborated with Roger Troutman, Zapp, and Shirley Murdock, and co-wrote the title track of Mavis and Pops Staples' Grammy Award-winning album Father Father, earning one of his two Grammy Awards
Erected 2026 by The City of Youngstown.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1973.
Location. 41° 5.795′ N, 80° 39.093′ W. Marker is in Youngstown, Ohio, in Mahoning County. It is in Downtown Youngstown. It is at the intersection of Market Street and Emily Alley, on the right when traveling north on Market Street. The marker is on the greenway at Wean Park near the bridge at Market Street. It is approximately
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Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Western Reserve and in the Mahoning Valley. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Kool & the Gang (here, next to this marker); Jeff "Prime Time" Lampkin (here, next to this marker); Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik (here, next to this marker); Harry "Dirty Harry" Arroyo (here, next to this marker); Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini (here, next to this marker); Rick Ward (here, next to this marker); Greg "The Flea" Richardson (here, next to this marker); 'A Handshake for the Century' (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 14, 2026
2. Billy Beck Marker on the left at the Youngstown Walk of Fame. Market St bridge passes over Wean Park
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 21 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 7, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
